Electronic Reserves Stir Copyright Dispute

“There’s been a change in Ellen Lichtenstein’s study patterns.

“For half her classes this past year, she no longer had to visit a library to get the reading materials professors had placed on reserve. Instead, she only needed Internet access and a password. And publishing companies are worried precisely because of that ease and convenience — it’s another way for publishers to lose sales.

“The Association of American Publishers already has contacted one school, the University of California, San Diego, claiming blatantly infringing use is being made of numerous books, journals and other copyrighted works.”